Method of playing card games

ABSTRACT

In the method of playing a card game, involving a dealer and at least one player provided are more than one pack of cards, preferably at least two packs of card. The player makes a stake on the fact that the player&#39;s game combination will be greater than the dealer&#39;s. The dealer distributes, to each player who has placed a stake, 5 cards face upwards and one card face upwards for the dealer. Each player makes a decision whether to forfeit their stake or to continue the game by placing another stake. While making a decision to continue the game, the player has an opportunity to buy a sixth card at a sum equal to the initial stake in order to form a better 5 card combination out of the six cards available. The dealer deals 4 more cards face upwards to the dealer. The players and the dealer&#39;s game combinations are compared to determine the winner. The claimed method provides the possibility of achieving new game combinations, increasing the speed of the game compared to similar game types, improving game protection from illegal manipulation of cards compared to similar game types.

The present invention relates to the gaming industry and moreparticularly to card-type games which are particularly suitable incasinos and card rooms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Casinos and other gaming establishments continually require new games tooffer their clientele. Most games allow players to play against a dealer(who represents a casino), not against each other.

The latest tendencies in the development of the casino industry pointout to the fact that players often prefer games that can be played fastand at the same time offer a plurality of choices of playing the game.This is an opportunity to make a choice in a game that strengthensplayers' interest. That is why it is more preferable to create cardgames suggesting new betting options, ranking orders and actions fromplayers' side.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774 discloses a method of playing a card gameinvolving a dealer and at least one player, comprising the steps of:

-   -   determining whether to place a first stake that the player's        hand will be greater than a first predetermined rank, where a        plurality of hands are ranked according to predetermined rules        and the first stake has a fixed payout;    -   determining whether to place a second stake that the player's        hand will beat the dealer's hand;    -   placing at least one of the first and second stakes;    -   the dealer dealing to each player and the dealer a hand        consisting of three cards;    -   the or each player who placed the second stake deciding, based        on the player's hand, either to forfeit the second stake to the        banker or to place a third stake;    -   the dealer determining whether the dealer's hand exceeds a        second predetermined rank, and if the dealer's hand does not        exceed the second predetermined rank, the bank paying each        player an amount based on the second stake and returning the        third stake to the player, or if the dealer's hand exceeds the        second predetermined rank, comparing the dealer's hand in turn        with that of each other player who placed the second stake and        if the player's hand is higher, the banker paying the player an        amount based on both the second and third stakes, and if the        player's hand is lower, the player forfeiting both the second        and the third stakes to the banker;    -   the banker paying the fixed payout stake in accordance with a        predetermined scale to any player who placed the first stake and        whose hand exceeds the first predetermined rank.

This known method of playing the card game does bring in variety becauseof suggested new three card combinations. However, the number of gamingcombinations is insufficient for wide player interest, especially in thearea of highly ranked combinations requiring big payout odds.

Another disadvantage inherent in the known types of card games is thatat least some of the dealt cards are dealt face down. This fact createsinsecurity for casinos, as long as players have to physically touch thecards in order to check them, which means a possibility of markingcards, illegal passing of cards, or exchanging information regardingreceived cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention is to provide a method ofplaying a card game that contains the main principles of a poker cardgame and provides possibility to realize new gaming combinations, toincrease the amount of potentially winning player's combinations, andhence, heighten interest for the game.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method ofplaying a card game that provides developing speed of the game andprotection from illegal manipulation of cards.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in the invention by a method ofplaying a card game involving a dealer and at least one player,comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) providing more than one pack of cards, preferable, at least        two packs of cards in 52 sheets;    -   b) providing a list of ranking game combinations corresponding        to the use of said packs of cards;    -   c) determining by players of whether to rate that the player's        combination of cards will beat a combination of dealer's cards        and placing a first stake;    -   d) distributing by the dealer to each player who has placed the        first stake, five cards from said at least 2 packs of cards, all        face upwards and one card face upwards to the dealer;    -   e) making a decision by each of said player, basing on the        combination of player's cards, whether to forfeit the said stake        or to continue the game by placing a second stake;    -   f) taking by the dealer four more cards face upwards and        determining whether the dealer has the necessary combination of        cards that equals or exceeds the minimum predetermined rank for        the continuation of game; wherein    -   g) if the dealer fails to have the required combination of        cards, the dealer paying the first stake and completing the        cycle of the game;    -   h) if the dealer does have the necessary combination of cards        for the continuation of the game, the dealer comparing each        player's combination of cards with the dealer's basing on said        list of ranking game combinations; wherein if the game        combination of the dealer is higher than that of the player, the        dealer wins and collects the first stake and the second stake,        if the game combination of the player is higher than that of the        dealer the player wins and the dealer pays the first stake at a        predetermined fixed rate, for example 1:1 and the second stake        is paid according to the preset scale of payments for the        ranking list of game combinations and the cycle of the game is        completed.

Preferably, if a decision is made at the step (e) to continue the game,the player may buy a sixth card for a predetermined sum, for example,equal to the first stake and then has the further choice to forfeit saidstake or to continue the game basing on analysis of the opportunity toform a better five-card combination of the available six cards.

Preferably, the method uses the following list of ranking gamecombinations corresponding to the use of said at least two packs ofcards consisting of 52 sheets.

-   -   Royal Flush—five cards of one colour under the order from an        ace,    -   Straight Flush—five cards of one colour under the order from        king and lower,    -   Poker—five cards of one face value,    -   Four of a Kind—four cards of one face value,    -   Full House—three cards of one face value and two cards of one        face value,    -   Flush—five cards of one colour not under the order,    -   Straight—five cards of different colours under the order,    -   Three cards—three cards of one face value,    -   Two pair—two cards of one face value+two cards of another face        value,    -   Pair−two cards of one face value,    -   Empty—absence of any of higher the listed combinations.

Preferably, at the step (f), while making a decision to continue thegame and before making the second stake, a player may place a stakehereinafter referred to as “insurance” which is based on the probabilityof the dealer having a combination of cards lower than the necessaryminimum combination for continuation of the game. At the step (g), ifthe dealer does not have the minimum game combination, payment will bemade by the dealer of the first stake and the stake “INSURANCE” at anappropriate predetermined rate. This completes the cycle of the game.

With the presence of the necessary combination of cards for thecontinuation of the game by the dealer, the bet “INSURANCE” is collectedby the dealer and the game continues by comparing each player'scombination of cards with the dealer's basing on the above mentionedlist of ranking combinations of cards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a facility for use in playingthe card game according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow-chart illustrating a sequence of actions which arecarried out in an embodiment of the method of playing the card gameaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a facility for use in playing the card gameaccording to an embodiment of the invention. The facility comprises agame table I providing a game field area 2 of the dealer and playingareas 3 for a plurality of players. Each playing area 3 includes, inthis example, three playing boxes 4, 5, 6, a set of playing chips (notshown on the drawings) for placing stakes. The facility also contains atleast two standard packs of cards, each containing 52 sheets.

The method of playing the card game according to the invention isdescribed below with reference to the flow-chart showed on FIG. 2.

The following described embodiment of the present invention uses sixstandard packs of playing cards. The dealer shuffles the cards andoffers the players the opportunity to place their stakes. At step 7(FIG. 2), each player places an initial (first) stake in the positionmarked “ANTE” (box 4 on FIG. 1) in order to participate in the game. Atstep 8, the dealer distributes 5 cards face upwards to eachparticipating player and one card face upwards to the dealer. At step 9,each of the players check their cards for presence of game combinationsand assess the probability of their combination being higher than thatof the dealer.

The priority of the game combinations is defined according to the presetlist of game combinations. The method uses a ranking hierarchy of gamecombinations in accordance with the present invention. The rankinghierarchy of game combinations is listed as follows:

-   -   Royal Flush—five cards of one colour under the order from an        ace,    -   Straight Flush—five cards of one colour under the order from        king and lower,    -   Poker—five cards of one face value,    -   Four of a Kind—four cards of one face value,    -   Full House—three cards of one face value and two cards of one        face value,    -   Flush—five cards of one colour not under the order,    -   Straight—five cards of different colours under the order,    -   Three cards—three cards of one face value,    -   Two pair—two cards of one face value+two cards of another face        value,    -   Pair—two cards of one face value,    -   Empty—absence of any of higher the listed combinations.

Because of the use of at least 2 packs of playing cards, the above listof game combinations contains poker hands that could not be formed withthe use of only one standard pack of playing cards of 52 sheets. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the combination “Poker” can befurther defined to include such new combinations as “Suited Poker”, i.e.5 cards of one face value and one suit, “Suited Four of a Kind”, i.e. 4cards of one value and one suit, “Suited Full House”, “Suited Three of aKind”, “Suited Two Pair”, etc.

At step 10, if the player does not wish to continue to play, eitherbecause he has no game combinations or believes that his gamecombination will be lower than the dealer's, he folds his cards, therebylosing the initial stake “ANTE”. If at step 9 the player has made thedecision to try and improve their combination then at step 11 the playerbuys a sixth card for the sum equal “ANTE”.

If the player at stage 9 or at stage 11, after purchase of the sixthcard, does not wish to continue to play, either because he has no gamecombinations or believes that his game combination will be lower thanthe dealer's, then there is a return to step 10, whereby he folds hiscards, losing the initial stake “ANTE”.

If at step 9 or at step 11, after the purchase of the sixth card, theplayer believes that his game combination is higher than the dealer'sthen the player continues the game at step 12 by placing a second stakein the position “BET” (Box 5), which is a predetermined amount relatingto the stake “ANTE”.

After the player has placed the stake “BET”, the dealer draws four morecards for the dealer. Based on the combination received by the dealer,it is determined whether dealer's cards form the minimum required gamecombination, which is a “pair of two's”. If the dealer does not have theminimum game combination (step 14) then at step 15 the dealer pays onlythe “ANTE” in the ratio 1:1. The stake “BET” in this case, does notparticipate in the game and is returned to the player. At step 16, thedealer collects all of the cards and proceeds to a new cycle of thegame. If the dealer does have the minimum game combination forcontinuation of the game, i.e. a “pair of two's” or higher, then thegame proceeds (step 17) and the game combinations of the players arecompared to the game combination of the dealer. If the game combinationof the dealer is higher than the player's (step 18) the dealer wins andcollects, at step 19, the stakes “ANTE” and “BET”. After that the gameproceeds, as at step 16, to a new cycle of the game.

If the game combination of the player is higher than at of the dealer(step 20) the player wins and the dealer (step 21) pays the stake “BET”at the ratio of 1:1 and the stake “ANTE” is paid according to thepredetermined scale of payouts corresponding to the rank of the gamecombination. After that the game proceeds, as at step 16, to a new cycleof the game.

The described method of playing the card game assumes a number ofoptional stakes, one of which is “INSURANCE”. At steps 9 and 11, theplayer has an opportunity to place this stake, providing they have theminimum required game combination, for example, “straight” or higher.

The purpose of this stake “INSURANCE” is to eliminate the possibility ofthe player receiving no payment for a high ranking combination in theevent of the dealer not having the minimum game combination forcontinuing the game.

Having placed this stake (step 22), the player returns to step 12 tocontinue the game at steps 13, 14 and 17, where, at step 14 (the dealerhas no minimum game combination), the stake “INSURANCE” is considered tobe a winner and is paid in the ratio 1:1. At step 17 (the dealer has theminimum game combination), the stake “INSURANCE” loses.

Another optional stake is “BONUS” which can be made on box 6 of thegaming field 1 at step 7 at the same time as the initial stake “ANTE” ismade. The stake “BONUS” is considered to be a winner if, afterdistribution of the players' first five cards, there is the presence ofa predetermined minimum game combination relating to the list of rankinggame combinations and is paid according to a preset payout scale. Thestake “BONUS” loses if the first five cards of the player do not achievethe minimum rank in the designated list of game combinations.

The most significant innovative advantage of the method of playing cardgame according to the invention is the security achieved from anypossible illegal manipulation of cards. This security is providedthrough the game procedures, which forbid the touching of the cards bythe players, made possible by virtue of the fact that all cards aredealt face upwards.

1. A method of playing a card game, involving a dealer and at least oneplayer, comprising the steps of: a) providing more than one pack ofcards, preferably at least two packs of card; b) providing a list ofranking game combinations corresponding to the use of said packs ofcards; c) determining by players of whether to rate that the player'scombination of cards will beat a combination of dealer's cards andplacing a first stake; d) distributing by the dealer to each player whohas placed the first stake, five cards from said at least 2 packs ofcards, all face upwards and one card face upwards to the dealer; e)making a decision by each of said player who has placed the first stake,basing on the combination of player's cards, whether to forfeit the saidstake or to continue the game by placing a second stake; f) taking bythe dealer four more cards face upwards and determining whether thedealer has the necessary combination of cards that equals or exceeds theminimum predetermined rank for the continuation of game; wherein g) ifthe dealer fails to have the required combination of cards, the dealerpaying the first stake and completing the cycle of the game; h) if thedealer does have the necessary combination of cards for the continuationof the game, the dealer comparing each player's combination of cardswith the dealer's, based on said list of ranking game combinations;wherein if the game combination of the dealer is higher than that of theplayer, the dealer wins and collects the first stake and the secondstake, if the game combination of the player is higher than that of thedealer the player wins and the dealer pays the first stake at apredetermined fixed rate, and the second stake is paid according to thepreset scale of payments for the ranking list of game combinations andthe cycle of the game is completed.
 2. The method according to claim 1,further comprising, if a decision is made at the step (e) to continuethe game, buying by the player a sixth card for a sum equal to the firststake and then making a choice to forfeit said stake or to continue thegame based on analysis of the opportunity to form a better five-cardcombination of the available six cards.
 3. The method according to claim1, comprising using the following list of ranking game combinationscorresponding to the use of said at least two packs of cards consistingof 52 sheets: Royal Flush—five cards of one color under the order froman ace, Straight Flush—five cards of one color under the order from kingand lower, Poker—five cards of one face value, Four of a Kind—four cardsof one face value, Full House—three cards of one face value and twocards of one face value, Flush—five cards of one color not under theorder, Straight—five cards of different colors under the order, Threecards—three cards of one face value, Two pair—two cards of one facevalue+two cards of another face value, Pair—two cards of one face value,Empty—absence of any of higher the listed combinations.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein, at step (h), the predetermined fixed rateof paying the first strake by the dealer is 1:1.
 5. The method accordingto claim 1, further comprising, at step (f), while making a decision tocontinue the game and before making the second stake, placing by theplayer a stake “insurance” that the dealer having a combination of cardslower than the necessary minimum combination for continuation of thegame, wherein, at step (g), if the dealer does not have the minimum gamecombination, the dealer paying the first stake and the stake “insurance”at the appropriate predetermined rate and completing the cycle of thegame; and if the dealer has said minimum game combination, collectingthe stake “insurance” by the dealer and continuing the game by comparingeach player's combination of cards with the dealer's basing on said listof ranking combinations of cards.
 6. The method according to claim 1,comprising providing at stage (a) at least six packs of cards of 52sheets.